How to Host a DIY Blue Valley Chocolate Tasting at Home

Hosting a DIY chocolate tasting using Blue Valley Chocolate at home is an incredibly rewarding experience that allows you to explore the complex and nuanced world of craft chocolate in a fun, educational, and delicious way.

Much like a wine tasting, a chocolate tasting invites you to slow down, engage all your senses, and truly appreciate the artistry behind each bar. At Blue Valley Chocolate, we believe in connecting deeply to the origins and craftsmanship of chocolate. This guide will help you set up and lead your own memorable chocolate journey, transforming a simple indulgence into an enriching experience.

1. Chocolate Selection: The Star of Your Show

The foundation of any successful tasting is a thoughtful selection of chocolates. Aim for at least five to seven different types to provide a good range for comparison.

• Diverse Cacao Percentages: Include dark chocolates with varying cacao percentages (e.g., 60%, 70%, 80%, 100%). This allows you to experience how the flavor profile changes with bitterness and intensity.

• Milk Chocolate: Include a high-quality milk chocolate to appreciate its creamy texture and distinct sweetness.

• White Chocolate: While white chocolate doesn't contain cocoa solids, it offers a different sensory experience and can be a good starting point. Your average white chocolate may not be everyone's favorite, but Blue Valley's white chocolate is the real stuff. It doesn't taste like your classic white chocolate, rather, it offers a unique, creamy flavor typical white chocolate couldn't dream of.
  

• Inclusions: Consider one or two bars with unique inclusions like ginger, almonds, oranges, or peppers to add an extra layer of complexity.

2. Preparing Your Tasting Area: Setting the Scene

Create an environment that encourages sensory focus and comfort.

• Ambiance is Key: Choose a quiet, well-lit space. Soft, natural lighting is ideal. Play gentle, non-distracting background music.

• Scent-Free Zone: Avoid strong perfumes, scented candles, or cooking odors, as these can interfere with the delicate aromas of the chocolate.

• Arrangement & Presentation:

• Arrange the chocolates on a clean platter, wooden board, or individual plates.

• Label each chocolate clearly with its flavor and cacao percentage. Numbering them is a great idea, especially if you plan a blind tasting for an element of surprise!

• Break the chocolates into small, bite-sized pieces (about 1/2 inch to 1 inch squares). This allows guests to sample multiple varieties without feeling overwhelmed.

• Order of Tasting: Always arrange chocolates from mildest to most intense. The general progression is: white chocolate, then milk chocolate, followed by dark chocolates in increasing cacao percentages (e.g., 60% before 80%). This prevents stronger flavors from overwhelming your palate for the lighter chocolates.

3. Palate Cleansers & Optional Pairings

These are crucial for refreshing your taste buds between samples.

• Palate Cleansers:

• Still Water: Essential for rinsing the palate.

• Plain, Unsalted Crackers or Bread: Neutralize flavors and cleanse the mouth.

• Green Apple Slices: Their slight acidity and crispness are excellent for refreshing the palate.

• Optional Beverage Pairings: While not strictly necessary, some beverages can enhance the experience.

• Coffee or Espresso: Can complement the roasted notes in dark chocolate.

• Herbal Tea: Depending on the tea, it can highlight certain flavor notes.

• Sparkling Water: A refreshing choice that doesn't interfere with flavors.

• Wine/Spirits (Proceed with Caution): Red wines can sometimes clash with chocolate due to tannins. If pairing, consider lighter, fruitier reds or dessert wines with darker chocolates. Lighter, crisp white wines or sparkling wines might work with milk or white chocolate.

4. The Tasting Process: A Sensory Journey

Guide your guests through a methodical tasting process. Some things you can invite guests to notice include the texture of the chocolate, as well as the scent and overall flavor. Encourage them to notice other flavor notes beyond the surface of how rich or strong a chocolate may be.

• Tips for tasting chocolate like a pro can be found here: How to Taste Chocolate Like a Sommelier

5. Discussion & Education: Sharing the Experience

Encourage interaction and shared discovery among your guests.

• Share Your Observations: After each chocolate, invite guests to share what they noticed. It's fascinating how different people pick up on different flavors.

• Compare & Contrast: Discuss the differences between the chocolates. Which ones were more fruity? More bitter? Creamier?

• Educate: Briefly share interesting facts about the origin of the cacao, the bean-to-bar process, or the history of chocolate. At Blue Valley, we love to share the journey from cacao pod to our award-winning bars, highlighting our sustainable practices.

• Reveal (for blind tastings): If you did a blind tasting, reveal the identity of each chocolate at the end and discuss which ones were surprising favorites.
  

Hosting a DIY chocolate tasting is more than just eating chocolate; it's an educational and communal experience that deepens appreciation for this beloved treat. So gather your friends, select your favorite Blue Valley Chocolate bars, and embark on a delicious sensory adventure!